The Burden of Proof quest in Starfield is one of the most involved side missions tied directly to the UC SysDef and Crimson Fleet storyline. Players are tasked with gathering incriminatory slates and audio logs across the Settled Systems to build a compelling case against the pirate faction. Successfully tracking down these items provides crucial background lore and unlocks exclusive rewards, including unique weapons.
Understanding the Burden of Proof Objective
In Starfield, Lieutenant Jillian Toft serves as your primary contact for turning in Crimson Fleet evidence. Handing over slates throughout the storyline helps UC SysDef prepare for their ultimate confrontation with the pirates. Gathering enough proof eventually earns players the legendary Memento Mori sidearm.
While about 20 distinct slates exist in total, players only need to collect roughly 15 to 18 pieces to complete the quest. This buffer ensures that missing a few time-sensitive items won't permanently block quest completion.
Key Evidence Locations During Story Missions
Many pieces of evidence spawn naturally inside mission areas as you progress through the Crimson Fleet arc. For instance, during the quest Echoes of the Past, players can find Carter's Gig inside a locker within the Lock's shower facilities. Another slate, the Warden's Log, sits on a counter right in the Warden's Office nearby.
Later missions like Breaking the Bank feature Request Denied located in Captain Rokov's quarters on the Siren of the Stars. Players exploring the station SY-920 during The Best There Is can snatch Eubanks & Woods inside the room adjacent to Dr. Vogel's lab.
Finding Evidence Around Major Cities and Hubs
Not all evidence is strictly tied to primary quest corridors, as several items rest in public locations. In Cydonia on Mars, an audio slate sits directly behind Alder Kemp in the local hub area. Visiting Kay's House in The Well on New Atlantis reveals Huan's Talk sitting on a kitchen counter beside the refrigerator.
Players venturing into Neon will find items in notable establishments such as Madame Sauvage's Place and Euphorika. Tracking down these extra slates allows players to fulfill Lieutenant Toft's requests early without feeling rushed during high-stakes missions.
Tips for Missable Slates and Endgame Retrieval
Certain locations, such as faction-specific ships or locked quest areas, become completely inaccessible once specific missions wrap up. Because of this, players should thoroughly scan rooms with scanner mode active whenever exploring unique interior cells.
If you miss quest-locked items, do not worry about failing the objective completely. Scattered slates located in public cities and starstations provide more than enough proof to max out your progress with Lieutenant Toft.
